On my playlist

Like I said earlier today, I've been walking down memory lane and listening to some (golden) oldies:

Dusty Springfield
Kate Bush
Fleetwood Mac
10-CC
Eagles
Herb Albert
Orleans

Arrinconamela

Walking down memory lane today. I hope you like this video from Tony Gatliff's movie "Vengo" starring Antonio Canales. I love this piece of flamenco "Arrinconamela" performed by Gritos de Guerra.

Arrinconamela

Katy Perry "U R SO GAY"

Madonna likes it; Perez likes it, so I'll give it a try and listen to it.

I HEART DEVENDRA BANHART

Ay tu primo colorado
Con barba camburada
Y llena de ballena
Inclinadose al sol
Ay tu rayo de luz roja
Besando nuestra boca
El beso que te sopla
Huele al col

Tus tres ojos lunares
Extraterrestriales
Entran cuando sales
Por eso no se ven
Ay tu barba colorada
Traviesa y rebelde
Me afeito con espada
Pero devuelve

La la la la la la...

Si la noche te persigue
Entrégate a ella
O dile que tienes dolor de cabeza
Sombrita de reflejo
Dame algo tierno
Me como tu amor
Y cago el infierno

Adio, adio, adio
Primo granje
Hola Bernardo...

La la la la la la la...

Ay tus ojos colorados
Azul y anaranjados
Amarillo verde y marrón
Mi amor envuelto en tu corazón
No lo sueltes por favor
Somos elefante y serpiente semejante
Tomando aguardiente
En el sol
De una flor...

La la la la la la la...

What's been on my playlist lately

Kanye West - Graduation
Duffy - Rockferry
Fergie - The Dutchess


Snoop Dogg's Sensual Seduction

I love the song. I love the video. I LOVE SNOOP!

Malamarismo, the latest album from La Mala Rodriguez. Here she is with Volvere

Sugarhills We Love You Guys!

Enjoyed a great show from Sugar Hill Gang last Friday. They can still groove. No swearing, just skills. Here's to old school hiphop!

Chambao - Pokito a Pokito

La Mala is back!

Spain's reigning queen of hip-hop La Mala Rodriguez has a new video. Check out the video clip of "Nanai" the second single from her album Malamarismo. As always La Mala is fierce in this video clip.

No Me Llames Dolores, Llámame Lola

Lola


The video of "Lola" from the Spanish band Pastora.

No me llames Dolores, llámame La Xica, la que siempre va sola buscando follon! Busca busca busca follonnnnnn! Me meto en medio de todo el mogollón.

Nathalie Portman haunts Paul McCartney

Nathalie Portman has a cameo in the video of Paul McCartney for his new single "Dance Tonight". I find the video quite enjoyable. The song has a "simple" happy tune and Nathalie Portman is so cute as a futurist electronic ghost who dances to the sound of McCartney's mandolin.
The video also stars Mackenzie Crook who plays Gareth in the original British TV show "The Office" and plays one of the rogue pirates in the last two movies of "Pirates Of The Caribbean", the one with the fake eye that keeps popping out.
The video had its worldwide premiere on YouTube last Wednesday. It was directed by Michel Gondry from the Bjork videos and the movie "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind".

Sellaband

I am still spreading the word about Sellaband an explosive new concept that is breaking down frontiers. As I am a big fan of this concept of artists and fans making music together I would like to share this video with you.



Check out also my previous posts about Sellaband; click here and here to read my previous posts on this subject.

Cheer Up!

"Interesting stories, things that affect my life and people that means a lot to me.."
Who would not like this phrase from the song "Live, Laugh, Love" by country singer Clay Walker:

"I'm gonna live, laugh, love just for today
Gonna take all the trouble that tomorrow might bring and put it away
Gonna drink every drop of happiness
'Till they cover me up
I'm gonna live, gonna laugh, gonna love"

So, if you are feeling blue or even if you are in happy mood, these lines will have a positive effect on your mood whether as an acknowledgement that life is good or just as a small "pep talk".

So just put away the trouble that tomorrow might bring and just live, laugh and love!

La Titimania

I love this song! It always makes me feel good and brings a smile on my face. The song is about old geezers who are into young women and are affected by the "condition" called "Titimania". It has a nice melody, good lyrics with a good sense of humour and if you watch the video you do not need to understand Spanish to know what the song is about. So, just watch the video and slowly your hips will follow the beat and a smile will appear on your face.

"La Titimania" from the Cuban band Los Van Van starring (a young) Mr. Juan Formell himself.

Black and White in Colour

In this documentary the film maker is following Roma singer Vera Bila and her band Kale and shows how she lives in Slovakia. After watching the documentary I was confused and I did not knew how to explain to myself what I just watched.
As a fly on the wall "Black and White in Colour" shows Vera Bila as the Roma singer, the mother of an adopted son, a dedicated wife but also as a woman who sabotages her own life. Although short in height, this Czech Roma lady has a great voice. I was touched by all songs featured in the documentary and I have been frantically surfing the Internet to find out more about her music.
But at times the documentary feels as a long PR video to promote Vera Bila and sometimes it feels as the scenes are manipulated either by Vera or the film maker. I felt a bit 'cheated' and I do not know if I even could blame someone for it as the objective of the documentary is not clear to me. The topic of how Romany live in Slovakia and are viewed by society is only briefly touched and brushed away by Vera which I find disappointing as I believe it would do more justice to the documentary and mostly to the Roma singer Vera Bila. Thinking more about it, I believe I have not seen one documentary that is totally 'objective' about its subject, but is edited the way the film maker wants to get his/her message across. And if the message is to show the talent of Vera Bila then that message surely comes across loud and clear.
Video clip or not, I am impressed by Vera's voice and would like to show you a musical excerpt from "Black and White in Colour".




Black and White in Colour, 1999
Director: Mira Erdevicki
Producer: David Charap

Music & Life

A cool and short animation about music & life.

Pandora's box

If you want to discover new music that you will like, then there is Pandora Internet Radio to the rescue. Just name your favourite song or artist and Pandora, a new discovery music service, will make new suggestions. No software is required as it is all web based. You do not have to worry about listening 'illegal' to music as the artists get compensated because Pandora pays licensing fees for all music that is played on their web site. The best part is that you do not have to pay for it as Pandora is free although they offer also a paid subscription.
You can create up to 100 stations and even refine the stations by giving a 'thumbs up' if you like the song or moving the song to a different station. Just like in Pandora's box you will not know what will be released when you open the box. You will not know what song is up next and each time it will be a surprise. This way other artists are brought to your attention, artists whom you may never have heard of if not for Pandora.
But this Pandora's box is different from the Greek mythological one as all negativity has already been released when you open it so as in Greek mythology only Hope remains at the bottom.
The check list: Artists getting paid, check. Free Internet radio, check. Rubbish filtered, check. Good music, check. All items checked and no red flags. So there is nothing against it to give it a try. Then let's be adventurous and see what Pandora's box has in store for you.

La Mala and Antonio Carmona

More about Maria 'La Mala' Rodriguez. While recording her new album she also had a side project and worked with Antonio Carmona (former lead singer of the Spanish band Ketama) on his debut solo album 'Vengo Venenoso'. They worked together on the song 'Ay de Ti' on which Carmona's voice and La Mala's rap blend perfectly.

Check out a small bit of La Mala's rap in 'Ay de Ti' which I find so beautiful. To me it's pure poetry and so puro gitano (gypsy).

mala_ay de ti.mp3

"I’m walking down the street with my back full of stab wounds and he who doesn’t love suffers more, that’s clear to me, I laid down the foundation, I’m the first lady, besides I also made up the bed".

"Freedom, look at me while you still can and decide what you want, the good nor the bad does not matter to you, I'm like water, drink me from the fountain, honey, love me uninhibited, till it's over".

Note: I am not a Spanish native speaker, the translation of the last sentence may not be accurate

La Mala Maria

Walking down memory lane today. I hope you enjoy this video from Maria 'La Mala' Rodriguez, my favourite female hip hop artist. The name of the song is 'La Nina' from the album 'Alevosia' which was released in 2003.
Her new album 'Malamarismo' is expected to be released sometime this year. In the meantime we can kill some time watching this video.

Clémence hits 50k!

It's amazing!!! Just a few minutes ago Clémence hit 50k. She is the second artist from my list on Sellaband to hit 50k and she did it only one week after Second Person, another band on my list, raised 50k!
This shows that artists and fans together have a lot of power and they can make a difference in the music industry. This proves that the concept of Sellaband works.
Clémence entered Sellaband in December 2006 and within 4 months she reached the goal many artists aspire, to record a CD. C'EST MAGNIFIQUE!!!! ENCROIABLE!!! I don't know if this is proper French, but hey I'm a happy gal who is celebrating that another artist in which she believes is going to the studio to record a CD, so never mind my poor knowledge of French.
It took me a while to join her circle of believers, but I admire the quality of her production and above all, she has an amazing voice and she reminds me a lot of Celine Dion so eventually I gave in and became a believer. Now I am happy to be part of her team; her talent deserves recognition.
Another Sellaband artist raised 50k, with my help. I am such a good person (LOL) with such a good eye for talent (LOL). Mmmm, maybe I should consider switching careers and become a talent scout at EMI. Naah, I'll just stay where I am.

I am sooo happy for Clémence. Felicitations a toi!

Check out her video 'Ou est-tu' after the JUMP

SellaBand

"The music industry is all about fences. Those who are on the inside, and those who are on the outside. SellaBand wants to break down all the fences. Everybody with a passion for music can be on the inside. It's your music. It's your choice."

This is in the mission statement of Sellaband a concept that provides a platform for bands. These bands have to find 5000 people to believe in them. Fans (or Believers in Sellaband terms) can buy parts to help their favourite artist getting closer to their ultimate goal, to raise USD 50k so the artist can record a CD. Sellaband started out in August 2006 and already 3 bands have hit 50k and are in the studio recording their CD (Note: On March 18 the total number of artists on Sellaband who has raised 50k is four).

Instead of major record companies telling us what is out there, Sellaband shows us that the other way round is also possible. Bands and their believers are providing the market of what is hot. Who better than the fans can decide what is hot or not?



I believe in (in alphabetical order):

Black Jack

Clemence (raised 50k on March 18, 2007)

Daniel Ward Murphy

Kane Sole

Lenaluiz

Lily

Magnus

Second Person (just hit 50k on March 12, 2007)

Travellers